Short mat bowls is a relatively recent variant on the ancient sport of lawn bowls,
played indoors on a specially manufactured, pre-marked mat. The sport, which is played
socially and competitively in village halls and other community spaces, does not
require a permanent location as the portable mats are rolled up and stored when not
in use. The sport is played by all ages, sexes and abilities who can compete together.

HSMBA is the organising body for short mat bowls in Herefordshire. We are affiliated
to the ESMBA, the governing body in England, and we run leagues, county teams and
open competitions as well as generally promoting and developing the sport within
the county.

A good place to start for newcomers is our Introduction section where you can find
out more about the game, how to start playing or how to go about establishing a new
club. Enjoy looking around our website and please use the Contact page to provide
feedback or to find out more.

Herefordshire had its best ever National Championships with the Mixed Four of Joe
Loveys, John Mills, Shirley & Becci Cox and the Pair of John Mills & Shaun Jones
each matching the county’s best ever result by reaching the semi-finals Report

The April edition of The Extra End, the ESMBA newsletter, can be viewed through the
link on the left

Congratulations to the Aston Ingham team of Mike Conway, Terry Darrington & Rita
Hancock on winning the Bromyard Triples tournament, defeating the Larruperz team
of Lorraine Pearce, June Pearce and Tony Vitale in the final Details

Congratulations to Woolhope on winning the LEH Trophy with a 4 shot victory over
Ross LEH Results

Unfortunately the Fownhope Open Charity Fours has had to be cancelled this year.
Fownhope club hope to reinstate the competition in the future.

The county A team progressed to the semi-finals of the ICC consolation competition
with a convincing 29-11 win over London A. The Premier team exited the ICC main knockout
competition at the Preliminary round stage following a 31-9 defeat to Essex APremier

We have been provided with a limited number of printed promotional leaflets and posters,
copies of which can be viewed / downloaded here. If anyone has any ideas for placing
/ distributing these materials within the county please contact Ian Roe. Anyone is
free to download and print the material for use by their own club.

Member clubs should note that the ESMBA can provide 2 year interest free loans to
help with the purchase of equipment. Any club interested should enquire at enquiries@esmba.co.uk

Merion Attwood can re-coat chipped jacks using an electrostatically applied powder
coating (as used in jack manufacture) at a cost of £10 per jack. Anyone interested
in this service should contact Merion directly (lsmbc@merion.co.uk, 01989 750591)